13 of the most unique doughnut shops in the US

In the fall, nothing tastes quite as good as their pumpkin cake doughnut or their apple cinnamon doughnut with apple pie filling inside. Their cherry cake and cheese pocket doughnuts fly off the shelves. Even Alton Brown thinks these donuts are noteworthy. 

They also make giant Texas doughnuts big enough to feed six to eight people.

You can't visit New Orleans without chowing down on Beignets, but you might want to add these traditional doughnuts to that must-eat list. Blue Dot was founded by three New Orleans Police Officers with a true love of donuts.

They have seasonal flavors like the traditional king cake or the pumpkin spice sweet potato along with everyday favorites like the orange glaze or blueberry-filled donuts.

Amy's specialty donuts are known for being topped with a wide range of cereals, candies, fruits, and chocolates. Relive your childhood by indulging in their cereal donuts like Trix, Fruit Loops, or Lucky Charms. Feed that nagging chocolate craving with a s'mores or Twix doughnuts. They even have a cotton candy doughnut topped with sweet blue fluffy candy.

There's a lot of competition in the big apple when it comes to the restaurant scene, but The Doughnut Project is on top thanks to their creative flavors using some not-so-traditional ingredients like Chandon sparkling rosé, everything bagel seasoning on their sweet cream cheese donut or even beet glaze in their ricotta stuffed donut called "those beetz are dope."

They work with other creative individuals in the food and drink world to create unique collaborative projects with companies like Président Cheese, Angry Orchard, Hot Ones, and more.

This place is not only adorable with their fancy chandeliers and pink accents, but their doughnuts are as cute as their decor.

Topped with heart sprinkles and swirls of icing, their donuts can satisfy any craving. They have the "flirty Frenchie" that's topped with a thick spread of chocolate icing and stuffed with espresso cream cheese, the "showgirl" with crispy bacon and maple buttercream, the "femme fatale" with sweet vanilla icing and tart raspberry curd, and so many more.

These doughnuts are seriously so pretty, you'll want to go for the Insta post, but end up staying for the taste. They have a bright, bubblegum pink "pink d'oh-nut" resembling the Simpsons donut, a blueberry toast crunch donut topped with cereal, the Oreo panda donut, and plenty more to choose from. 

These handcrafted doughnuts are almost too beautiful to eat. You can try their salted dulce de leche doughnut with creamy, vanilla dough and coarse salt. Or, their pumpkin spice latte creme brûlee doughnuts, made with pumpkin pie filling, pumpkin dough, and topped with a caramelized shell.

Holy Donut hides a starchy secret in their donuts to make them so delicious. They use potatoes to add moisture to the donut and create some inventive flavors like bacon cheddar or pomegranate. Their fresh lemon donut combines citrusy, hand-squeezed lemons and zest from the peel for the perfect tart flavor.

Order a cup of coffee and enjoy a doughnut in this famous Seattle doughnut shop. They have classics like vanilla custard and chocolate with gooey marshmallow, plus unique doughnuts like sweet peaches and cream or nectarine jam. They often incorporate seasonal fruit jellies and creams into their doughnuts to create unique flavors, like rose cream or date shake.

Maybelle's is tucked into the Pearl District in San Antonio serving a variety of doughnuts that taste as good as they look. Their soft pink dip "Homer" doughnut with rainbow sprinkles is yet another play on the Simpsons doughnut. They have a s'mores doughnut with a giant toasted marshmallow on top along with creative rotating flavors like pistachio and floral hibiscus berry.

Brewnuts in Cleveland, Ohio looks more like a bar than it does a traditional doughnut shop. With neon lights and a fully stocked beer list, you'll be willing to go just for the Instagram — but then there are the doughnuts.

The doughnuts are actually craft-beer based treats and they come in all different sorts. Be sure to try the Harry Potter chocolate frog doughnut, banana cream pie, and maple bacon, when available. Not into drinking? Don't worry, all the alcohol is cooked off in the frying process.  

How do you make a doughnut better? You coat it in a flavorful brown butter glaze and combine it with super salty hazelnuts. If you love salty and sweet together, their sea salt bourbon caramel doughnuts are a great choice.  They even have a Vietnamese coffee doughnut and a fruity blueberry jam doughnut covered in sugar.

The famous Chicago doughnut shop has a variety of the classic favorites along with an entire menu of "dough boy's best" like the peanut butter and banana pocket or the glazed pretzel and specialty doughnuts like the toffee cake or the red velvet. They also have a few gluten-free options for those avoiding gluten.

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